Meeting called to discuss future of fire-hit mill

People evacuated from their homes after the most recent fire at a derelict mill complex have met to discuss the future of the site.

The latest in a series of fires tore through the Grade II* listed Dalton Mills in Keighley on 13 September, forcing nearby residents from their homes.

Organised by Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore, the meeting, which was only for residents directly invited, took place earlier.

The Conservative politician said: "Bradford Council as the local authority must take urgent action to properly secure this site and robustly do so so that we are mitigating any future possibility of a major fire." The council has been approached for comment.

Moore added: "It is an incredibly dangerous site, we have now had seven fires in a five-year period and multiple minor fires in between.

"The fire brigade are coming out and putting themselves at risk.

"I am deeply worried that an individual could get in and injury or a loss of life could take place."

It is the third fire this year at the building, which has previously been used as a filming location for Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.

Crews were also called to a blaze there in July 2025, while a fire in March 2022 destroyed a significant part of the complex.

Since 2024 the complex has been the responsibility of the Crown Estate after the previous owner relinquished his rights following bankruptcy and the collapse of plans to restore the complex.

In a letter to Bradford Council's chief executive, Keighley East councillor Caroline Firth accused the authority of failing to act, saying she had witnessed the "devastation, panic and fear" caused.

In her letter, Firth said during the most recent fire she had watched as the wind blew embers towards nearby houses and "large chunks of debris were raining down on people and homes".

She said one resident's hair had caught fire and another told her they would not return until they were certain they would not be "burnt alive" in their home.

She said residents felt "ignored" and criticised what she described as a "lack of urgency" in efforts to tackle problems at the site.

"This latest fire, which has destroyed the only building left worth saving, is something I've warned of and essentially begged for action on for well over a year," she wrote.

Firth also expressed frustration that plans put forward by developer Tim Rogers, of Future Transformations, to bring the site into private ownership had not progressed.

She argued the proposal offered a potential route towards the regeneration of the mill complex and said opportunities to restore the site could now have been lost.

Bradford Council has previously said the Crown Estate is aware of security concerns at the abandoned site, which has suffered repeated trespass incidents, and that it has been working with Historic England on additional security measures.

However, Moore said the council needed to serve notice to the Crown Estate to unlock the site so it can be put out to a private owner.

He said he would like to see it restored and used for employment, education or accommodation.

"We are right in the heart of Keighley, it has huge emotional attachment by many residents and has conservation status," the MP added.

"Grade II* status needs to be respected and all of us have a responsibility on that."

Police have previously said they believed most of the fires at Dalton Mills were started deliberately.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.